The transformation of porta Möbel into a leading eCommerce company is no coincidence — it's the result of years of strategic, deliberate change.
Headquartered in Porta Westfalica, porta Möbel is one of Germany’s leading furniture retailers. With over 27 stores nationwide and an annual revenue of approximately €1.34 billion in 2023, the company is a major player in the German home furnishing market.
Since 2019, foobar Agency has been working closely with porta Möbel to build a strong digital foundation for long-term success. From launching a new storefront based on headless commerce principles to migrating from SAP Hybris to commercetools and implementing a composable multi-brand commerce platform — these initiatives not only earned us the eCommerce Germany Award 2024, but also laid the groundwork for meaningful innovation.
But what comes after composable commerce? The answer is clear: you use this architecture to unlock new opportunities — and that's exactly what we demonstrated together with porta Möbel.
Here’s how porta Möbel, foobar Agency, and Google Vertex AI Search achieved measurable results in just 8 weeks.
With consumer behavior constantly evolving, having an efficient and intelligent search solution is now essential for any eCommerce business. Recognizing this, porta Möbel decided to replace its existing search technology to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Together, we successfully migrated to Google Vertex AI Search for Retail within just 8 weeks — with impressive outcomes.
The Starting Point: High Costs and High Effort
While the previous search solution delivered solid results, it required ongoing manual adjustments to reflect shifting user behavior. This level of maintenance no longer aligned with porta Möbel’s internal priorities. The result: reduced efficiency and a growing need for a more flexible, automated solution.
The Solution: Google Vertex AI Search for Retail and foobar Agency
Looking for a solution that could deliver strong results without the constant need for fine-tuning, porta Möbel turned to foobar Agency. In a precisely planned and executed project, we integrated the new search technology within only 8 weeks. The benefits were immediate:
- Cost reduction: Switching to Google Vertex AI Search for Retail significantly lowered tool-related expenses thanks to a transparent, usage-based pricing model.
- Increased efficiency: With Vertex’s advanced AI capabilities, manual interventions were drastically reduced. Better search results are now delivered out-of-the-box, with minimal effort required from internal teams.
- Optimized workforce allocation: Team members previously tasked with search result optimization could now focus on more strategic, value-generating initiatives — boosting overall productivity.
The User Benefit
Not only porta Möbel benefited from the switch — so did their customers. Thanks to a noticeably improved user experience, even difficult or imprecise queries now return highly relevant results. This leads to higher customer satisfaction and improved conversion rates.
At the same time, porta Möbel unlocked new innovation potential: the integration of Google Vertex AI Search opens doors to additional AI-driven applications across the business.
Why foobar Agency?
This success story wouldn’t have been possible without the long-term partnership between foobar Agency and porta Möbel. Since 2019, we’ve supported porta in becoming a future-ready eCommerce organization.
"We’re glad to have implemented this project together with foobar Agency — as we’ve done many times in recent years. Their technical expertise and deep understanding of our business made it possible to deliver the project successfully on time and within budget.”
Quote from Philipp Hoffschildt, Head of eCommerce and Software Development at the porta Group.
What’s Next: Scalability and Innovation
The introduction of Google Vertex AI Search for Retail was just the beginning. Not only does it significantly improve current search performance — it also lays the foundation for future innovation. As part of the broader Google Vertex AI ecosystem, the technology gives porta Möbel access to a range of powerful use cases and future expansion opportunities.
With a scalable, transparent pricing model, porta Möbel is now positioned to grow confidently — without the risk of spiraling costs eroding margins.
The Bottom Line: Success Across the Board
The switch to Google Vertex AI Search for Retail has been a success from every angle — technically, operationally, and financially. It shows what’s possible when you choose the right technology and the right partner. At foobar Agency, we’re proud to support porta Möbel on this journey — and we’re excited to keep driving innovation together in the future.
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FAQ – What eCommerce Leaders Want to Know
What are the benefits of using Google Vertex AI Search in online retail?
It delivers more relevant search results out of the box, reduces manual effort, and lowers overall tool costs – improving both user experience and conversion rates.
How quickly can Vertex AI Search be implemented in an eCommerce setup?
With the right setup and partner, implementation can be completed in as little as 8 weeks, as demonstrated in the porta Möbel case.
Why switch to AI-powered search instead of traditional search tools?
AI-driven search continuously adapts to user behavior, understands context, and eliminates the need for constant rule-based adjustments – ensuring smarter results with less effort.
What cost advantages does Vertex AI Search offer?
Its usage-based pricing model means lower fixed costs, and teams spend far less time manually optimizing search results – freeing up resources for more strategic tasks.
Is Vertex AI Search suitable for mid-sized or growing retailers?
Absolutely. Its scalability, flexibility, and transparent pricing make it ideal for companies with growing product catalogs and high performance expectations.
How does AI-powered search improve customer experience and conversion?
Shoppers find what they’re looking for faster – even with incomplete or unclear queries. This leads to higher satisfaction and significantly improved conversion rates.
What was foobar Agency’s role in this project?
As a long-term partner, foobar Agency guided the entire process – from architectural planning to implementation – bringing deep expertise in composable commerce and AI-driven retail tech.
What other use cases does the Google Vertex AI platform support?
Beyond product search, Vertex AI enables personalized recommendations, demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, and more – all from one integrated AI platform.
How can I make the business case for AI search to internal stakeholders?
AI search reduces costs, boosts efficiency, and directly drives revenue. foobar Agency supports clients with ROI calculations, benchmarks, and internal buy-in strategies.
Ready to take your eCommerce search to the next level?
Whether you're looking to reduce costs, improve UX, or unlock new AI use cases — we’ll help you get there with the right architecture and a future-ready solution.
👉 Get in touch now – and redefine how customers find what they love.
